Soaring to new heights: the potential of industrial print in aerospace

The aerospace industry is synonymous with innovation, constantly adapting to new technologies that drive efficiency, safety, and performance. One transformative technology in this evolution is industrial print.

Industrial print involves advanced technologies used to create components and products across various industries. In aerospace, this includes methods like additive manufacturing, digital printing, and inkjet techniques to produce lightweight, high strength components with remarkable design flexibility.

Traditional aerospace manufacturing methods can be lengthy and resource intensive. Industrial print streamlines production workflows, reduces waste, and offers greater customisation – all with improved structural integrity of components.

Incorporating industrial print into aerospace manufacturing significantly reduces production times. Traditional methods often rely on intricate tooling and extensive assembly processes. However, 3D printing, for instance, can produce parts within hours or days.

Industrial printing technologies offer design flexibility that is unattainable with conventional manufacturing methods. Aerospace engineers often require complex shapes that traditional machining cannot achieve.

With 3D printing, intricate lattice structures can minimise weight while maximising strength.

Sustainability is crucial for the aerospace sector, driven by regulatory pressures and a desire to adopt greener technologies. Industrial print promotes material efficiency by using only the amount of material needed to create a part. This process can cut waste significantly.

In traditional manufacturing, multiple components are separately manufactured and assembled. Industrial printing enables the creation of complex parts as a single unit.

This approach reduces assembly joints, decreasing the risk of mechanical failure and simplifying maintenance.

NASA is a great example. It is a pioneer in utilising advanced technologies to foster space exploration. The organisation has effectively applied industrial print to produce critical rocket engine components. By leveraging 3D printing, NASA designs and fabricates parts that endure the extreme conditions of space, significantly cutting production time and costs.

For example, NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center printed the 3D printed parts of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and reduced dual process requirements, resulting in faster development cycles and increased design agility.

As technology evolves, several trends within industrial print in aerospace are emerging.

The advancement of new materials for industrial printing will significantly impact the aerospace industry. Innovations in high temperature metals and polymers with excellent strength to weight ratios will further drive the adoption of these technologies.

As printing processes become more automated, the manufacturing industry can expect improved precision and efficiency. Enhanced quality control measures will bolster reliability in industrial printing applications within aerospace.

By merging industrial printing with digital technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, manufacturers can enhance data tracking and predictive maintenance. These integrations enable smarter manufacturing systems capable of real time adjustments for increased efficiency and output.

As aerospace companies recognise industrial print's value, groundbreaking innovation will become the norm with products that promote safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly air travel. Embracing industrial print technologies allows the aerospace industry to soar to new heights.